Which designers do you look to for inspiration?
I look at as many designers for inspiration as I can, whenever I have a free minute I can normally be found scouring various graphic/creative websites checking out whats out there. I keep anything I like in an 'electronic reference' folder which I constantly refer to for inspiration. My main passion is a love of typography which often influences my work this ranges from some typography seen on a old new york building to a vintage 1950's matchbox! It is difficult to pick out any particular designers as there is so much talent around but to name a few favourites of mine:
Geoff McFetridge, Mike Mills, The Quiet Life, Mike Perry, Faile.....the list goes on and on!
What is your design process?
My design process varies depending on the client and budget/timescales involved but if I have the time I always like to carry out thoroughly as much research as possible on the particular project i am working on. This involves looking at the marketplace and also immersing myself in all my vault of graphic/illustration reference to ignite the creative juices! Once I have a number of ideas to progress I do some scamps on paper then work up as concepts. This involves bringing various techniques and skills together (whatever may be suited to the project) including typography, graphics, illustration (digital and freehand) and design applications such as adobe illustrator and photoshop to work up a number of concepts. Once I am happy with the concepts I progress to artwork and that is pretty much my process.
My design process varies depending on the client and budget/timescales involved but if I have the time I always like to carry out thoroughly as much research as possible on the particular project i am working on. This involves looking at the marketplace and also immersing myself in all my vault of graphic/illustration reference to ignite the creative juices! Once I have a number of ideas to progress I do some scamps on paper then work up as concepts. This involves bringing various techniques and skills together (whatever may be suited to the project) including typography, graphics, illustration (digital and freehand) and design applications such as adobe illustrator and photoshop to work up a number of concepts. Once I am happy with the concepts I progress to artwork and that is pretty much my process.
INSPIRATION
What else inspirers you?
I take inspiration from everywhere really, as a designer its what we do, always looking, observing, hunting. I love all fields of design and take inspiration from both the field I'm in (graphic design) but also Illustration, art, interior design, fashion, architecture and then there is everything else such as nature, music, travel, street graphics, basically anything and everything!
What type of garments do you most like to design?
My area of work at this stage is only based around placement prints for t-shirts/tops which I love!
Do you design freehand or use CAD?
I use both but always finalise and produce artwork in CAD.
I take inspiration from everywhere really, as a designer its what we do, always looking, observing, hunting. I love all fields of design and take inspiration from both the field I'm in (graphic design) but also Illustration, art, interior design, fashion, architecture and then there is everything else such as nature, music, travel, street graphics, basically anything and everything!
What type of garments do you most like to design?
My area of work at this stage is only based around placement prints for t-shirts/tops which I love!
Do you design freehand or use CAD?
I use both but always finalise and produce artwork in CAD.
Inspiration
Which job has given you the most satisfaction?
I enjoy all projects that I work on as I am lucky enough to work on a diverse range of projects which help me to develop my skills and stay fresh in my approach if I was to pick out a particular project it would be some recent work I did for Saint George Duffer as Duffer was the first real brand I 'bought into' back in its early days so it was great to have the opportunity to be on the other side of the fence actually creating the designs.
What do you think the key trends for S/S 2011 are?
For the area of graphic placement prints I think humorous and quirky slogans will still be big but taking a more refined approach using well considered typography with a vintage feel. I think the street art influence will continue again using the 'Banksy' type of humour which adds that extra twist. A big trend that I think will continue to emerge is a shift towards 'nature' utilising old hand drawn natural history type illustrations of everything from insects to birds the more unusual the better. Another trend which I think will continue is the use of old medical anatomy illustrations and diagrams which in the context of a large t-shirt placement look really striking. Glamour and glitz will be big using vintage style imagery with a twist!
I enjoy all projects that I work on as I am lucky enough to work on a diverse range of projects which help me to develop my skills and stay fresh in my approach if I was to pick out a particular project it would be some recent work I did for Saint George Duffer as Duffer was the first real brand I 'bought into' back in its early days so it was great to have the opportunity to be on the other side of the fence actually creating the designs.
What do you think the key trends for S/S 2011 are?
For the area of graphic placement prints I think humorous and quirky slogans will still be big but taking a more refined approach using well considered typography with a vintage feel. I think the street art influence will continue again using the 'Banksy' type of humour which adds that extra twist. A big trend that I think will continue to emerge is a shift towards 'nature' utilising old hand drawn natural history type illustrations of everything from insects to birds the more unusual the better. Another trend which I think will continue is the use of old medical anatomy illustrations and diagrams which in the context of a large t-shirt placement look really striking. Glamour and glitz will be big using vintage style imagery with a twist!
What is important to you when you design a piece?
There are lots of elements that are important to me whilst designing but I would say the key thing is to achieve the correct look and feel for the target audience but also to push my work creatively and where possible offer that little bit extra WOW factor.
There are lots of elements that are important to me whilst designing but I would say the key thing is to achieve the correct look and feel for the target audience but also to push my work creatively and where possible offer that little bit extra WOW factor.